Full list of tournaments Novak Djokovic has missed due to unvaccinated status

The World No. 1 is out of Indian Wells and Miami Open due to USA's COVID-19 policy.

The saga over Novak Djokovic and Covid 19 vaccination continues to move on. The current top-ranked singles tennis player has withdrawn from the prestigious ATP 1000 Indian Wells and the Miami Open. The Serbian started the 2023 season on a great note winning the ATP 250 Adelaide Open I and a record 10th Australian Open Grand Slam title. He also now holds the record for most weeks as the World No. 1 tennis player (men's or women's), surpassing the record set by German women's legend Steffi Graf.

In January 2022, Djokovic was deported from Australia after spending nearly a week in detention and finally getting his visa cancelled for the second time by Australia’s Immigration. The Australian government did not allow him to participate in the Australian Open because the government felt that Djokovic’s anti-vaccine stand could have boosted anti-vaccine sentiments in the country. This was the first major tournament in which Djokovic could not take part owing to his unvaccinated status.

After a brief break, the Serbian went ahead to take part in the US (Miami Open and the Indian Wells Open). He had to withdraw from the first two Masters tournaments because of the COVID-19 vaccination rule in the US. The clay season was around the corner and Djokovic did not waste much time and started focusing on the French Open. The French Open authorities allowed the Serbian to participate in the grand slam and he eventually finished as a quarter-finalist losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

Wimbledon Championships took place a month after the French Open and the 36-year-old, won his fourth straight title. As expected, he wasn't given permission to participate in the US Open. Although Djokovic played fewer tournaments in 2022, he did not lose out on the World No. 1 spot for most of the season and ended the year on a high, winning the ATP World Tour Finals.

2023 season 

With the COVID-19 cases subsiding in most parts of the world, it became easier for Djokovic to play tournaments worldwide. He started the season by winning the ATP 250 Adelaide Open I. He then followed it up with the Australian Open title and lost only one set (in the second round) en route to the record Slam. The Serbian made a great comeback winning back-to-back tournaments and ultimately regained back his numero uno. 

Unlike 2022, the 2023 season started on a positive note. After a month's break, Djokovic took part in the ATP 500 Dubai Duty-free championships. He did not require to produce any vaccination reports which enabled him to play in the tournament. Daniil Medvedev ended Djokovic’s 15-match unbeaten run in the semi-finals.

Djokovic soon after the semi-finals, started practising for the Masters' event. But Despite his efforts to obtain special permission to enter the country, the Serbian player will miss the Indian Wells ATP 1000 event and is also expected to miss the prestigious tournament in Miami unless US authorities change their stance on unvaccinated international travellers.

The US Tennis Association and US Open organizers have expressed their support for Djokovic’s request to enter the country, but the policy remains in effect until at least mid-April.

List of tournaments Novak Djokovic has missed so far

2022

Australian Open

BNP Paribas Open

Miami Open

US Open

2023

Miami Open 

Indian Wells